# Accident 20170529008959A: Zenith ZODIAC, Sanford, NC, May 29, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2017, 13:30 local time
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Airport: Raleigh Exec Jetport At Sanfor
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4436° N, 79.1111° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4436&lon=-79.1111&mi=10
- Aircraft: N167EZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N167EZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ernest T Christley ZENITH ZODIAC 601XL (registry code 05635HH, https://openairdocs.org/model/ernest-t-christley-zenith-zodiac-601xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZENITH ZODIAC
- Reported engine: CORVAIR 100HP
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 110 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17TA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17TA196) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170529008959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS FLYING IN SANFORD, NC. WHEN HIS ENGINE QUIT. HE SWITCHED HIS FUEL TANK AND TRIED A RESTART WITH NO AVAIL. HE SPOTTED A FIELD TO LAND IN THINKING HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT. HE LANDED AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO HIS AIRCRAFT WHEN THE GEAR PUSHED INTO THE FIREWALL. HE SURVIVED WITH NO INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA17TA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17TA196), May 29, 2017: Ernest T Christley Zenith Zodiac 601XL (N167EZ), Sanford, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of a threaded metal rod of insufficient strength to connect the fuel tank selector handle to the fuel valve, which resulted in his inability to switch fuel tanks and a…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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